Best Ever Beef Stew

This Beef Stew is the #1 most popular recipe on my blog & my readers agree – it’s the BEST EVER! It’s insanely delicious, y’all! Just read the comments!

Fall is officially here, and I don’t know about you – but this is the start of soup & stew season for me. And, what’s better than a big, hearty bowl full of beef stew.

And, this ain’t just any beef stew. Not trying to toot my own horn or anything (or maybe I am), but I make a mean beef stew – and I hereby deem it the best ever.

Emeril Lagasse, eat your heart out – BAM!

See all those colors? You can almost inhale the richness of the stew just by looking at the photo. Seriously, ya’ll. It’s amazing. Addictive, and amazing. Once you make it, you won’t be able to go back to any other recipe.

I use beef demi-glace in this recipe, which you can find online here if you aren’t sure if your local store has it. The demi glace adds so much flavor to the stew; one that your traditional beef broth or stock really can’t beat. However; if you don’t want to buy demi-glace and don’t have any on hand – you can substitute some Swanson Flavor Boost (located with the broths & stocks in the grocery store).

It starts off with a nice coating of flour & seasoning salt on the stew meat & then it gets seared off in a pan before getting placed in the slowcooker. The onions are also added to the skillet, and then the whole thing is deglazed with some of the liquid in the recipe. Afterwards, it cooks all day on low in your slowcooker…and fills your whole house with some pretty amazing smells.

Which reminds me – when making this stew, please lock your doors. Deadbolt them too. Your neighbors may just burst right in and try stealing your stew. If you don’t follow my advice & leave your doors unlocked – don’t blame me when you fall victim to stew-lifting.

You single gals out there. Looking for a husband? This stew is your secret weapon. So, make you a big ol’ pot of it & start shopping for that wedding gown.

Wanna bite?

Oops. Sorry. There’s a computer screen there. You may want to go get an ice pack for that…

Shake the beef stew meat in a resealable plastic bag with the flour & seasoning salt until evenly coated. Heat the olive oil in a skillet; add the floured stew meat to the pan & brown on all sides. Remove using a slotted spoon or tongs & place into the bottom of a slow cooker. Season with pepper.

Saute the diced onion in the same hot skillet for 2 minutes. Don't worry about cleaning it out in between - that's added flavor! Transfer the onions into the slow cooker as well. Pour the Worcestershire sauce, water, & beef demi glace (or Swanson Flavor Boost) into the skillet and whisk until mixed, making sure you scrape up any browned bits in the bottom of the pan. Turn off the heat & set aside.

Add the diced potatoes, carrots, celery, & bay leaves to the slowcooker. Now, pour the broth/Worcestershire mixture in the crockpot as well. Cover; cook on low for 8 hours. Remove the bay leaves before serving.

Could somebody translate this recipe into English? Never mind about ‘cups’, what on earth is ‘Swanson Flavor Boost’? Monosodium Glutamate?

Kerry K

Swanson’s (brand name) makes canned broth, but they now have a new product called “flavor boost” that is, I’m assuming, like a broth but with more flavor. check for it in the soup isle of the grocery store.

Great recipe; but I’d substitute red wine and beef stock for the 2 cups of water. Also, consider adding a few soft prunes, chopped; they melt into the stew and add a rich darkness but no taste of prune.

MrsHappyHomemaker

If you use beef stock instead of water, make sure to omit the demi-glace or Swanson Flavor Boost – it would be too much. The prunes sound like a neat trick

Pat

I have started using a dark beer instead of red wine with a lot of beef dishes. But I usually use half beer/half water or broth. Love the flavor…..

I just took beef stew meat out of the freezer earlier this evening to thaw in the fridge overnight … was planning to make my plain, old regular slow cooker veggie beef soup. But, after seeing this on RecipeNewz, I will have to try this method and recipe instead tomorrow. Looks so yummy, thick and comforting!

Jo Walker

Could this simmer longer or shorter than eight hours?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Yes!

http://www.facebook.com/brenda.zur.5 Brenda Zur

I add also add a little tapioca to my stew, adds a touch of sweetness…mmmmm

Mart

Just put it on to cook about 2 hours ago, hope it taste as good as it smells! I used 1 1/2 cups of water and 1/2 cup red wine. Can’t wait to try it !!!!

Liane

I just made this and it was amazing! I added garlic, a 1/2 cup red wine in place of 1/2 cup water and some chopped French beans that I needed to use up. I ran out of time and cooked it for 6 hrs on high and that works too. Thanks for the recipe! I will add the prunes next time that sounds like a great idea. I served it with a dense Italian bread

SA

At first glance I thought this said “I shared it with a dense Italian friend.” lol thought I would share my ridiculous musings.

Rayette

LOL… too funny!!

Christine

Wonderful flavorful Beef Stew!

http://www.facebook.com/leanne.neisenmoreno Leanne Neisen-Moreno

This is amazing! It´s been included in our family rotation…

Anabelle Millan

I’m going to make it for dinner.. thank you

Melanie

Could I use an cast iron pot and cook it in the oven instead ? If yes how long and what temperature ?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I’m sure you could, but I’ve never attempted it before so I couldn’t help with the time & temperature.

Great stew. The only thing I dislike is that the prep time is long. I like to be able to throw it all in the crock pot and go. But other than that its awesome. My family doesn’t usually like stew but they loved it.

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

You could still throw everything in the crockpot and go if you would like – it will still be yummy!

Bev

Hi! Quick question? Can I cook this on stove top tonight? (no crock pot?)

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

You certainly can!

suzih

I made this. I rarely give reviews, but wanted to say this was absolutely worth the effort. Delicious!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I’m so glad you think so! Thank you for sharing!

Carole Ann

I’m not an experienced cook. I’m wondering what seasoning salt is…is it seasoned salt or just ordinary salt? This looks so good I want it to be the best it can be. Thanks for any help you can give me…

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Yes, seasoned salt

Carole Ann

thanks Crystal, I’m making this soon!

Alma

My hubby has has high blood pressure. This recipe sounds gd. But how much sodium does it have?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I’m not sure the exact amount, but you could cut down on the amount of sodium by using swapping out higher sodium ingredients for lower sodium ones.

dianel

I see that someone wrote in about cooking in regular pan on stove top. How long would the cooking time be and would there be any other changes. I also do not own a slow cooker

Cookiemom

This really is the best ever beef stew! The only thing I did different was add some garlic, just a personal preference. So glad to have found your website. Not only are the ideas and recipes awesome, but humorous as well. Take that Emeril… BAM lol!!

I think I will be making this tomorrow for the big game! I just checked and I have all the ingredients! Score!

Shannon

Made this yesterday for Super Bowl Sunday….it was amazing!! I used Beefy Onion Lipton Soup mix instead of the flavor boost (because I couldn’t find it) and it was still soooooo good!!! Will make again…and again and again!

Viola Uhl

Looks like something my hubby would love

Cindy

Just have to say “thank you” for sharing your recipe. Finally a stew recipe that is a KEEPER! So yummy!

http://www.facebook.com/mkauffmancerria Maggie Kauffman Cerria

I need help! I made this and while my house smells very good, the stew tastes almost a little too tart?!?! (Best word to describe it). Any thoughts on what I can add to make it a bit better?!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I’m not sure why it’s tart… very odd! You could add more Worcestershire sauce though.

Amanda Kline

I made this today and will be trying it soon for supper. My only concern is its not think or “stew like” like in the picture. Any suggestions?

Becks

At first spine didn’t either, but by the end, give it a good stir and it will be. Promise! It was delicious!

Thugnificent

Thick? Use a Rue or slurry. Flour+butter or corn starch+water.

happypeacefullone

I made this recipe and it was fantastic! It is just hubby and I to feed so we always have lots of leftovers. To get a little creative with the leftovers portion, I added a half cup of Heinz chili sauce and about a cup of day old strong coffee – (my husband likes gravy and sauce). Your recipe was very close to an old pioneer recipe called “Ketchum Canyon Stew” that was used for meals on the pioneer trails (which is a time consuming chore to make because there is no crock pot use after prepping it). Your recipe was easy, amazing and adding the ingredients did not take away from it at all…..it just gave us more sauce to clean out of the bowls with the bread I bought to accompany the meal! Thanks for sharing this!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Thanks so much for coming back and sharing!!

Amanwhocooks

I don’t usually comment on anything but I had to come back and say Thank You for such a wonderful recipe. I did add 2 cloves of garlic and instead of 2 cups of water, I used 1 cup of water and 1 cup of newcastle brown ale. I started late so I set on high in the slow cooker for 4 and half hours. It came out so good. I invited a friend over who likes beef stew and he ended up having 3 bowls. Yeah, you read that correctly, 3 bowls. Oh and I wasn’t able to find the demi-glace so I used the swanson flavor boost. I will definitely be making this again soon. Now I’m off to heat up some beef stew leftovers as it just started to snow and I know the stew will taste even better today.

Amanwhocooks

I don’t usually comment on anything but I had to come back and say Thank You for such a wonderful recipe. I did add 2 cloves of garlic and instead of 2 cups of water, I used 1 cup of water and 1 cup of newcastle brown ale. I started late so I set on high in the slow cooker for 4 and half hours. It came out so good. I invited a friend over who likes beef stew and he ended up having 3 bowls. Yeah, you read that correctly, 3 bowls. Oh and I wasn’t able to find the demi-glace so I used the swanson flavor boost. I will definitely be making this again soon. Now I’m off to heat up some beef stew leftovers as it just started to snow and I know the stew will taste even better today.

http://www.facebook.com/asontia Asontia Kouri

OH my this recipe sounds so good i can’t wait to make it for me and my love tonight..

CD

Do I use one packett of the Swanson Flavor Boost or two?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Just one!

Jazz

This almost looks too good to eat! Is it okay to use russet potatoes, that is all I have on hand..also, is it possible to use beef broth instead of the flavor boost..if so, how much? I’m super excited to try this!

GIO

Has anyone seen what the calories are for a serving of this stew? Just curious – It looks great!

Jazzy

This looks and sounds devine! My first beef stew and my husband, my tummy and I are super excited! Right now I have some beef stock in my pantry..can I use that instead of the demi glace? If so, how much?

Becks

I couldn’t find any delgaze or the Swanson stuff. (Store only had chicken booster, no beef) so I used 2 cups beef stock in place of the 2 cups of water and it turned out great!

Unfancy Nancie

This is very similar to the stew I have made for years, the only difference is I add garlic, paprika and a little tomato paste and use stock instead of water. I then cook dumplings on top of the stew…yummy!

Joanne

Ok I have this on the slow cooker right now but realized I added more Worcestershire sauce then I wanted. I hope it sort of phases out as it cooks.

Jocelyn Melinda Tisdale-Hicks

Ooooh with some hot buttered cornbread! Honeychile what you talking bout!

Diana

this looks delightful. One thing though that I would change is the onion. My mother has me hooked on white pearl onions for our stews, they are small and on the sweeter side and when you take a bite it just gives you a burst of flavor in your mouth.

Lauren

i have done this recipe before and it’s amazing bu this time t I used 1/2 a cup of red wine vinegar and 1.5 cups of water to get a full flavoured taste. With the replacement it was the best stew I have ever tasted. try it.

Lauren

I also prefer using stewing pork over beef. I have made this recipe many times and the pork melted in my mouth. I now prefer it over beef. Sooooooo goood.

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

What a great idea, I love that! Thanks for sharing

Nadine

This sounds delicious…..can’t wait to have a fire in the fireplace and a big bowl of this stew!!!

B Everything in One

I tried this recipe today and it was so delicious!! I think the bay leaves add a whole new dimension of flavor from my usual… As well as the flavor boost. I also cooked mine on slow for 4 hours and on high for the last 2 and it still came out perfect! Thank u so much!!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Thank you SO much for coming back & commenting with your results – I’m super glad that you love it too! It’s a favorite in my household

Haley Holden

I have been keeping tabs on this recipe for MONTHS! My husband and I work at a camp full time, so during the summer months we typically get all of our meals in the dining hall. We have been married since December and between moving, having a new job, etc, I just haven’t made this yet. However! Due to the fact that we get all of our summer meals in the dining hall, I haven’t been able to practice my cooking skills (or my crock pot skills)! :O This is my third day using the crock pot actually. ANYWAYS… Since it’s only us two, I cut the recipe in half (for the meat and veggies) but kept the same amount for the liquid ingredients (water, flavor, Worcestershire sauce, etc). Is that what I’m supposed to do??? :S Also, I still have to remember to read ALL of the instructions before starting what I’m doing, so I threw everything into the crock pot right away (with the exception of browning the meat and sauteing the onions). Do you think that will be okay??

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I would have cut the entire recipe in half, liquids included. I think that throwing everything in at the same time won’t produce a huge difference, but next time you try it – try it the other way. Either way, I hope you enjoyed it!! And, thanks so much for ‘keeping tabs’ on the recipe It sure is a favorite in our home!

Miz Bleu

Hi Crystal, just ordered demi glace from Williams-Sonoma to make this recipe. It was pricey, but I’m trusting you. My Mom was an excellent cook but as she got older she exchanged some of her meals and one of them was beef stew. She found a bag of frozen beef stew at the grocery store. Nasty, she thought it was good. My husband called it fart stew. Mom is gone now and when I saw it and read your promo for it, I thought I have got to make it. We haven’t had stew since our fart stew in 2009 so I’m really looking forward to it. You sold me and when my demi-glace arrives and I make it I will definitely give you a heads up. I’m gonna follow the recipe as you have it. My one question though is, I know stew meet is kind of tough, did you tenderize it at all before hand?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Hi! I’m thrilled that you invested in the demi glace, I think that you’re going to LOVE it! So much flavor in there, it’s seriously amazing stuff. I don’t tenderize my stew meat, I find that the cooking process used does a fantastic job in producing very tender meat – you can cut it with a spoon with no effort. I can’t wait to hear your results! And the ‘fart stew’ totally made me laugh out loud! haha

8ozcrockpot

What size crock pot is this recipe for? I have a an 8qt – will I need to adjust the recipe?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

An 8 quart crockpot would work just fine for this

Stephanie

I am not able to find the flavor boost or actual demi-glace just a packet of Knnor demi-glace gravy. Should I prepare the packet according to the directions and use 2 Tbsps of it or use 2 Tbsps of the powder? Thank you

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Hmm, that’s a good one. I’ve never tried that before – but I would suggest to make the gravy & add that. Maybe even reduce the liquid called for a little bit to make a thicker concentrated flavor, more like what demi-glace would be.

Paige

Made up what i could tonight, it’s all waiting to be put in the crockpot tomorrow. I’m so excited, your pictures look so delicious! I’m adding a couple pinches of chicken stock, mainly because I like the taste of it mixed together. I’m planning to serve it in bowls over cooked egg noodles too yum! Did I say how excited I was?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I’m so glad you’re excited… I’m excited for you to try it, and I hope that you love it as much as my family & I does!!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

That’s exactly what it is, and you’re so right about the line being addictive! Luckily, I live near an outlet center so I find myself getting some amazing deals there… but amazing deals on temp-tations can also prove to be very dangerous

Danielle

I have this in my crockpot right now. An addition that I did was add barley to add even more nutrition to it. Can’t wait to try it.

Mandy

This recipe looks great! Question, if I make it the night before, can I store it in the fridge and just turn the crockpot on in the morning??

Gypsy

HI I’m making this today and have everything in the crockpot. Is it ok that the liquid does not cover all of the vegetables? Since 2 cups of water and the 1/4 Worcestershire is all it called for I’m assuming this is ok. I hope so!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Yes, perfectly fine!

Megan K

I am making this now and it did not cover the beef/veggies at all. I made 2 more cups of water and Worchestershire and poured it over and it covered just right…hope its ok?

Christina Glassbrook

WHEN COOKING IN A CROCK POT, YOU DONT NEED TO DROWN YOUR VEGGIES. THE MEAT WILL ADD JUICES. TRUST ME THE VEGGIES WILL COOK

Steve Rogers

The vegitables will render down providing the moisture and flavor…Just let it simmer. It will work,, and BTW it smells great!

Lisa

I made this today and loved it. I used “Better than Boullion” for the demi-glasse. You can get that at every grocery store here. I reduced the potatoes and added mushrooms and parsnips. Fabulous!!!!

Mrs. Coker

“Better than Boullion” is what I used too! It’s in the slow cooker now and smells fabulous! Can’t wait to try. My first slow cooker beef stew

Brittany

How much better than boullion did you use? I bought that as well

Heather

I misunderstood your directions, and put the worcestershire sauce and demiglace in the slow cooker…not the saute pan, because I think the directions are just a little misleading….just FYI, in case you wanted to clarify this for other blondes like me:) I hope it turns out okay:/ Anyways, thank you!

Michele N

i did the exact same thing, i have it in the crockpot now. hope it comes out ok!

Brook Estell

Approx. how many serving did this make when you made it?

cgutierrez

so agree!!! it was not very clear on that part, i did the same! i just poured the mixture out into the pan, then back in crockpot. hope it turns out ok!

Rachel

i made this like two years ago and I have never forgotten it (but I lost the recipe) so I googled it and searched it forever until I found it again! I will not lose it this time and i cannot wait to make it again. thanks for this great recipe!

Alysha Re’anna Brooks

I tried an irish stew variation of this, and it was PERFECT. Smithwicks Irish Ale is the best and talk about a good hearty meal for freezing cold days!

debbie s

I made this beef stew using swanson flavor boost. It was very good. Thanks for the recipe.

Kelly

I made this and it was pretty good, although I’m not a huge fan of Worcestershire sauce. Was wondering if I could reduce the amount and factor in something else? Would love to hear your thoughts! Thanks!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Yes, if you’re not a fan – you could just leave it out completely and proceed with the recipe as usual.

grupael

I rarely comment on recipes I try a lot of recipes from here!. This recipe earns comments! I was skeptical of it when I was making it, partly because it doesn’t have a many ingredients, and again because it was too easy.
I was seriously WOWED by this recipe! I just had two bowls, and going for a third. I am not a big eater at all, but man is this good!!
When I first put it together, I figured it would be just okay. I am telling you, this is by far the best beef stew I ever had / made! I did modify it just a teensy bit. I added some minsed garlic. Otherwise followed it as is. I highly recommend this! Thank you for sharing!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I am SO thrilled to hear this! Thank you for coming back to share your awesome review of this recipe, and I’m so happy to hear that you loved it so much!

Erin

it’s really bland without some paprika and allspice

JJ

Hi! I was planning on making this tomorrow, for Christmas. I have a 4qt crockpot… waiting on an upgrade from the hubs lol Anyway, first question, will a 4qt be ok? And second question, would it work if I cooked it on high 4 hours? Thanks! Very excited to try it!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

4 quart will be a tight fit, but it should hold it. It will still work if cooked on high, but I prefer the low setting because I think the stew meat comes out more tender.

Allison Cote

Making this as I type. Just a little concerned about my potatoes on the top. They were coated with the wet mixture, but are they still going to cook being so close to the top? I’m also speeding up the cook time–4-4.5 hours on high.

joy

How long for high???

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I’ve never made it on high heat before, I really think that cooking on low makes the meat more tender than the high setting on crockpots. But, if you do decide to go with high, I would think 4-5 hours would work.

Connie Tonn

FYI: I found “Savory Choice” brand Beef Demi-Glacé on the Amazon website. You can purchase just a single pack or a pack of 6. It is sold by Taylor’s Market out of California . Since I had to pay for shipping, I bought the 6-pack. That way I have it on hand. It just arrived today so I will be making this Beef Stew recipe tomorrow! The packets have an expiration date of Sept. 2015, so it keeps a long time. Can’t wait to try it!

I am making this (for the second time) as I type! I used the flavor boost, but I wasn’t sure how many packets to use, as I had never used flavor boost before. I used all 4 the first time and found the stew to be DELICIOUS but a little on the salty side. Today I’m using 2 to see how it comes out. THANKS FOR THE BEST BEEF STEW EVER! Seriously tasty

Tracy

I haven’t made a stew in years because the last 2 were not that great. But yours looked sooo good that I decided to try again. It hasn’t even been a week and I am making it again to bring to my mom and dad’s tonite. My kids loved it, husband loved it, my dad will be in heaven he loves beef stew. Thanks for the great recipe. The only thing I added was garlic, were a garlic family. Thanks again

Baloo

This is by far the best stew recipe I have ever tried! It didn’t last long, so I will be making it again real soon! I can put my other stew recipe’s away.

Its in the Crockpot right now! smells great. I didn’t have bay leaves or red potatoes. So I just used regular potatoes. And my stew meat was cut smaller than what is pictured it looks like so it may be ready after 6 hours which is fine by me. The smells coming from my Crockpot are amazing. I think I may use a low sodium beef broth/stock in place of the water next time, but that’s a personal preference because I like a strong beef flavor. Ill let you know how it turns out. I’m off to the store to buy some bread bowls!

Alisha

Oh and I used 1 tsp of garlic and sauteed it with the onions and my family hates celery so in its place I used some fresh green beans that I had sitting there. But I pretty much followed the recipe exactly, only making minor changes to suit my family and what I had on hand.

ginal

I’m Looking forward to making this tomorrow… I’ve never made beef stew before because no recipe had sounded so great, just one question for the Swanson beef flavor boost u don’t say how much to use… could u let me know how much?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

They come in individual serving packets, so just use one of those packets!

ginal

Ooo and thanks for the recipe… Looking forward to a great meal!!!

Trilby Pierce

I made this a few months ago, and just tossed the stuff in the crock a few minutes ago for dinner tonight. It is sooooo gooood. And it will thicken up once it’s stirred and scooped into bowls. This is my go-to recipe now for beef stew! Thank you Mrs. Happy Homemaker for sharing this recipe!! As a side note, I used beef base (by Orrington Farms) instead of demi-glace because this is what I had on hand. Tastes just fine. I’d imagine that bullion would also work in a pinch!

Coley

My crock pot has seen better days so making this in my cast iron pot. How long should it cook doing it this way? Can’t wait to try it.

Use1 to 2 envelopes of dry beefy onion soup mix mixed with tjevwater in place of the Swanson mix. I use the onion soup mix when making a roast too….makes delicious gravey!!

Stephanie Hawkins

Just made this today (THANKS Pinterest!) – on the stovetop. DELISH! A previous commenter recommended throwing in some figs???? I’d never heard of such but since I had some dates on hand, I decided to give that a try. Couldn’t find Demi glacé so I used the beef better than (L.O.V.E that stuff!) I also took care to sear my meat well (in the past, I haven’t done so great) rather than over cook it. So I’m not sure what was the magic but this one of my best stews ever!

http://www.finnegandesigns.com Emily Machtemes Finnegan

Stephanie, how long did you cook it on the stove top? That’s what I’m doing. I didn’t have time to put it in the crock pot.

Tammy

Has anyone tried making this in a pressure cooker? It looks delicious so wondering if there are any alterations to make when using a pressure cooker. I have an electric one and I love the way it cooks food so much better than in the crock pot.

Moe

I have it cooking in the crockpot now. The only thing I did different was add garlic and used 1 beef flavor boost and 1 sweet onion & burgundy wine flavor boost. Smells delish. I also reduced the meat because we are not big red meat eaters in this family, and used the potatoes that I had which were russett. And my carrots are always baby carrots.

sarah

Can I use beef stock instead of the flavor boost?

sarah

Can I use beef stock instead of the flavor boost???

Sarah Jaciuk

Can I use beef stock instead of the flavor boost? I cannot find the flavor boost.

Shanice

Hello! What a fabulous recipe! I made this Saturday for my boyfriend and I. It was cold and rainy-perfect day for stew. We devoured as much as we could until we were over-full. It’s that good! I served it with a crusty French Sourdough from a local bakery and the bread in combination with the stew was divine. The leftovers are fantastic and I have been eating them all week for my work lunches. I am also sure it would freeze OK which is probably what I will do next time.

Here is what I did/changed:
-Bought a 2.8 pound cross rib roast and chunked it up, leaving the fat and gristle out, so all in all I probably had closer to 2 lbs of meat
-Put less than a large onion in as the bf isn’t a raving onion fan. I also added about a tsp of garlic and a heavy pinch of salt to the onion while it was sweating. Just couldn’t help it…
-Replaced 1/2 cup water with red wine. Again, couldn’t stop myself.
-Used beef Better than Bouillon since I could not find anything else in the store
-Omitted celery and added sliced crimini mushrooms…yum!

To be honest, the stew meat was falling apart at 6 hours on low but I made us wait another hour to be sure it was all ready. This was tough as the house smelled amazing! 8 hours is a bit overkill on this recipe if your meat and potato chunks aren’t much bigger than a large cotton ball.

Thought I would leave my tips since I found everyone else’s comments so helpful. Thanks!

Brook Estell

Anyone know how many servings this makes?

Shanice

6-8 bowls depending on how big yours are and how full you serve them. I got 10 smaller servings out of my batch.

Michelle Theede-Green

Made this last night, it was fabulous!!! I don’t really like stew but this one made me change my mind, I added Edanamme Beans instead of celery, One dollop of sour cream and it was so delish!!!! Thanks!

Shannon

I have made this as the recipe states and it is delicious!!! To make it gluten free, do I just replace the flour with a gluten free flour like rice? Any other adjustments that need to be made?? Thanks for help!!

tammigirl

I just assembled all of this and got it going. Boy, I already know it’s going to be wonderful!

Shay

How many servings is this?

Jenna

“Looking for a husband”? Seriously? Is this blog from 1954?

TalkBack10

You don’t think there are women in the 21st century looking for a husband? Times haven’t changed THAT much!

Aimee

Saw this on pinterest…made it this evening for dinner and served it over thick cheesy grits…to.die.for! Thank you!

Ana S.

This sure looks delicious! Will be going to try this. The only problem is that my slow cooker is also a rice cooker and for some reason the slow cooker is just a high setting. Could I make this stew at a high setting, for how many hrs?

Brianna Sabetti

I made this today and added 1 more cup water, and 1 cup beef stock to cover the veggies, I also substituted the Swanson beef flavor booster with 2 tbsp McCormick Brown gravy mix since I couldn’t find any flavor boosters anywhere, sold out probably due to Thanksgiving being 3 days away
it turned out amazing, and I’m glad I added more liquid. If you have a bigger crock pot I don’t think you’d need to add more liquid, I have a 5qt one so I definitely did.

Kristina

Made this today but with beef broth and pork stew meat. Also you,forgot one main ingredient, GARLIC! Gotta have the garlic. We added a cup of our green beans from our garden last sseason too!

J_Shive

Made this tonight and I must say that I loved it. One suggestion, add garlic. It makes it pop. Other then that my family ate it and lied how the meat just fell apart in thier mouth. Thanks for sharing this recipe!

http://www.finnegandesigns.com Emily Machtemes Finnegan

I made this tonight and it truly IS THE BEST beef stew Ever! I only did 2 things differently. I added about 5 cloves of minced garlic (LOVE my Pampered Chef garlic press!) and I cooked it on the stove top. About an hour and a half on medium/high heat, covered. If you do the stove top method, be sure to stir about every 15 minutes. I used a non-stick TFal dutch oven. My boyfriend said he wasn’t very hungry because we had a good lunch (no breakfast), but he had 3 bowls. If your store doesn’t have it, find it somehow. You’ll find it at finer grocers or online. I got mine at Whole Foods. In any event, I would NOT substitute the demi glace. I’ve made beef stew many many times over the years and the flavor the demi glace gives is remarkable. Do yourself and your family a huge favor and make this stew this week! Yummers!

V. Evans

Okay I am doing two things for the first time. One is comment on a recipe. Two is make stew. First let me preface this comment by saying I do not cook. When I say I do not cook, I mean I really don’t cook. I have a wonderful fiance that is an amazing cook and he cooks for me. He makes wonderful recipes in the crock pot, so I was inspired to give it a try and surprise him. I figured if I could read a recipe I could put it in a pot and plug it in. I made a few adjustments just to say it was my own creation with some help. I added one tablespoon crushed garlic, one cup red wine, and half of onion finely chopped (I do not like onion but I like the flavor of onion) I worked a full 8 hour day and just got home. The house smelled so good when I walked in. I couldnt wait to see what how my creation turned out. I lifted the lid and stirred the contents. It was a rich brown gravy broth that was the perfect “stew” consistency. The stew meat was separating as I was stirring which told me it was tender. I filled a small bowl and had a taste…mmmmmm so good. I cant believe I made something this delicious! I cant wait for my fiance to try my home made beef stew. He is going to freak out!!!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

YAYYYY!! I am so happy to hear this! Thank you so much for coming back & telling this to me – I love to hear when someone loves a recipe as much as I do… and congrats on the cooking success! I bet your fiancé was so super happy!

Kimikaze

Slow Cooker died in kitchen sink crash test. How long and what temp if I make this on the stove top?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Oh no! That stinks! I’ve never made it on the stove top – but I would cook it on low for about 3-4 hours to try & mimic the slow cooker, stirring occasionally – and check for tenderness along the way to see if you need to cook it longer. Hope this helps!

Kim

If you own a cast iron skillet, you can put it in the oven covered on 350 for about 2 hours. I do mine in the oven to warm my house in the winter and it smells so good!

kay

How many servings does this make?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

About 6-8, depending on how big of a bowl you serve in.

Tamara

I have a newer wide oval crock pot and a taller old school one…which to use? I am guessing the taller smaller one so everything is layered better?

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I don’t really think it matters – I use a newer oval one myself.

Caley Allison Gartee

Sad that they use MSG instead of real flavoring to make this.

Tonia

I have this all in my crockpot now. I find 8 hours to be quite long. Will 5 or 6 suffice? Thoughts anyone? Very excited to try this

Michelle

If I want to make enough for at least 10 servings do I use 3 lbs. of stewing beef or 4? Also how would I adjust the ingredient amounts using 3 lbs. of beef? I assume I would just double everything using 4 lbs. but would rather just use 3lbs. Can you reply asap as I am anxious to try this!

http://mrshappyhomemaker.com/ Mrs Happy Homemaker

You can really use either – 4 pounds would definitely be meatier. Just double the recipe by 1 & a half to use the 3 pounds of meat, I’m sure you’ll have more than enough for 10 people!

Michelle

Can you tell me how I would adjust the amount of ingredients if I use 3 lbs. of stewing beef? I want to make a larger amount.
Thanks…

monique madruga

I just found this post and am excited to make this recipe!! We have it in the crockpot now but we did not have large carrots so we used baby ones. I did not know how the measurements apply to cup measures and the crockpot is a bit full… The liquid is just covering up to the meat and not covering carrots or potatoes.. Should I be adding more liquid??

Meggie Nelson Thrasher

Made this today and WOW! Husband said it was the best beef stew he’s ever had and I agree! Did everything by the recipe, didn’t change a thing. Perfect

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

This is so great to hear! I’m so glad that you & your husband enjoyed it so much! We certainly love it too!

Brenda Smith

Love, love, love this recipe. Next time I will make a double batch so I can bring some to the neighbors.

Tamara

I am the WORST cook ever – no really…I am a nightmare in the kitchen for almost anything that requires an oven or stovetop. I am making this today for the SECOND time! The first time was for Christmas Eve for just my small family. My husband loved it (rare, rare, rare!). So happy to have found this recipe and went out of my comfort zone – thank you Mrs. Happy Homemaker and YAY me!

Joy S. Hines

Omg I cooked this last night and it was really the best I’ve ever had. The only thing I did different was I added a tablespoon of better than bouillon beef base in the skillet with a Lil over than 1/4 cup of Worcestershire sauce then I added it to the pot with 1 1/2 cups of water. I also added a pinch of garlic salt and I did everything else as stated in her recipe. You will looooove this!!! Thanks for sharing. <3 Joy from nc

Joy S. Hines

I highly recommend getting better than bouillon beef base. ….it adds so much flavor! !! You can start out with 2 teaspoons or tablespoon. You don’t want to over do it.

DebbyB

Just made this today. I halved the recipe since there are only two of us but other than that followed it exactly. My man loved it. Should have doubled it instead. This is perfect!!!!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

Yay! Sounds like it was a hit, and I’m so happy to hear it! We obviously love it here too!

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

I’m so glad that you love the detergent! It’s the only one we use! To answer your question, this is most definitely safe for HE washers!

Katy

I just got my slow cooker for Christmas this year (hooray for grown up presents!) and I’ve already made this 3 or 4 times. Such a great recipe, I’m always sad when the left overs are gone

http://MrsHappyHomemaker.com/ Crystal

This is awesome to hear – yay! So glad you’re loving the stew!!

Beth

I am a believer. This is the best beef stew. thanks

Donette Beechem

Made this the other night. Had it for dinner the next day. My family loved it!! My husband said it was the best stew he ever had.

Aly

I usually hate beef stew but wanted to try to change my mind and this was the perfect recipe to make! Not bland, chewy beef stew like I’ve had in the past! Thanks for sharing!!